'Eric the Eel' dreams of Olympic return - CNN.com 'Eric the Eel' dreams of Olympic return By James Montague, CNN Updated 9:00 AM ET, Tue July 31, 2012 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. Photos: What happened to Eric the Eel? Eel communication – "Eric the Eel" became something of an Olympic hero when he swam at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. His time of one minute 52.72 seconds in the 100 meters freestyle was the worst in Olympic history. Hide Caption 1 of 9 Photos: What happened to Eric the Eel? Calm before the storm – Eric Moussambani hails from Equatorial Guinea in west Africa. He replied to an advert on the radio looking for swimmers and was promptly told he was going to the Games despite having never seen an Olympic-sized pool before. Hide Caption 2 of 9 Photos: What happened to Eric the Eel? Take off – His two opponents in the heat were disqualified for false starts.

Moussambani, who had learned his technique from the American swim team in the two days before the race, set off on his own as the crowd cheered. Hide Caption 3 of 9 Photos: What happened to Eric the Eel? Eric the Eel vs. the pool – The reason that Moussambani could swim at Sydney was because the International Olympic Committee gives out a limited number of wild cards to developing nations. Hide Caption 4 of 9 Photos: What happened to Eric the Eel? A new Olympic record... – Moussambani struggled but eventually finished the race. It wasn't enough to qualify for the next round but the record books still show that he technically won his one and only Olympic race. Hide Caption 5 of 9 Photos: What happened to Eric the Eel? Hero worship – Eric's swim became world news and he became something of a hero for his gutsy, if flawed, swim. Hide Caption 6 of 9 Photos: What happened to Eric the Eel? Later that day... – There was one other swimmer from Equatorial Guinea at Sydney.

Paula Barila Bolopa swam in the women's 50 meters freestyle and also came last in a record time of one minute 3.93 seconds. It was twice the previous worst time in the event. Hide Caption 7 of 9 Photos: What happened to Eric the Eel? Trevor the Tortoise – Since Eric's infamy, the world's press has been on the look for similar anomalies at major championships. One of the best known is Trevor Misipeka from American Samoa, dubbed "Trevor the Tortoise." He was penciled in for the shotputt, but an administrative error meant that he had to compete in the 100 meters sprint, which he did in 14.28 seconds. Hide Caption 8 of 9 Photos: What happened to Eric the Eel? The new Eel? – Despite the IOC keeping a closer eye on its wild cards, London 2012 has had its own "Eric the Eel" moment. Rower Hamadou Djibo Issaka of Niger finished in last place in a single sculls repechage, 100 seconds behind his nearest rival.

He has acquired his own animal-themed nickname: "The Sculling Sloth." Hide Caption CNN talks to Eric Moussambani, better known as "Eric the Eel" Equatorial Guinea athlete became a worldwide celebrity for the worst swim ever He finished 100 meters freestyle heat at Sydney 2000 in double the world record time Now 34, Moussambani is hoping to return to the Olympics at Rio in 2016 The English commentator veered from disbelief to anger and then, finally, to mirth. It was the opening heat of the men's 100 meters freestyle swimming at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, but only one man was standing on his block: Eric Moussambani from Equatorial Guinea, a tiny, oil-rich state in west Africa. There had been two other swimmers to compete with -- one from Niger, the other from Tajikistan -- but both had jumped the gun, dived in to the pool and been disqualified. The crowd cheered, the gun fired and the 22-year-old dived in. Suddenly he was on his own.

What followed was one of the most memorable two minutes in Olympic history, one that would embody something far away from the podiums that honor the motto of the modern Games: "Faster, higher, stronger." During the first 50 meters Moussambani appeared to be holding his own, but by the turn things had gone very wrong. At one point he appeared to stop, treading water to catch his breath before continuing. Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – The countdown to the start of the opening ceremony is projected across the stands while the Royal Air Force aerobatic team, the Red Arrows, flies over the Olympic Stadium. The opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games was held on Friday, July 27. Check out photos from the closing ceremony. Hide Caption 1 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – Spectators take shelter under umbrellas prior to the start of the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – A man wearing glasses waits for the start of the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – A balloon flies over spectators prior to the opening ceremony.

Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Spectators wait under the rain before the ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – The Red Arrows fly over Olympic Stadium before the opening ceremony. Hide Caption 6 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – A robotic camera captures an overview of the Olympic Stadium at the start of the London 2012 Opening Ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Performers prepare for the opening ceremony. Hide Caption 8 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – The Red Arrows fly over the Olympic Stadium and the ArcelorMittal Orbit Tower. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Danny Boyle, the London 2012 artistic director, addresses the audience. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – The Red Arrows disappear over London ahead of the opening ceremony. Hide Caption 11 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – Bradley Wiggins, the first British winner of the Tour De France cycle race, waves to the audience. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – A young performer holds a balloon bearing the Olympic rings. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – A young performer holds a balloon.

Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Artists take the field for the meadow scene. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Artists arrive before the start of the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Fans take photos as cows are lead across the stadium floor. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Artists arrive in a horse and carriage. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Actors perform during the British meadow scene. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Performers depict a view of the English countryside. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Performers depict a view of the English countryside. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Cricketers play on the pitch during the preshow. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Actors perform during the British meadow scene. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – The London Symphony Orchestra performs during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Artists perform during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Artists perform during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption 26 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – A general view of the inside of the stadium during the opening ceremony.

Hide Caption 27 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, at the start of the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – General view taken during a scene of The Age of Industry. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Huge chimneys emerge from the ground to symbolize the industrial revolution. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – An inflatable yellow submarine floats above artists. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Inflatable yellow submarines float above artists during The Age of Industry scene. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Spectators watch the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Hide Caption 33 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, attends the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on Friday. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – A general view of Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Actors perform during the British meadow scene during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Kenneth Branagh performs as Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Artists perform as the sun sets in the background. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – The sun sets behind performers. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Drummers dressed in period garb perform during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Performers drum during the Opening Ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Artists perform during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Drummers during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Actors perform during the industrial revolution scene. Hide Caption 44 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – A general view of the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Hide Caption opening ceremonies 28 – The Olympic rings form. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Artists perform during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption 47 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremonyv – The Olympic rings are assembled above the stadium in a scene depicting the Industrial Revolution. Hide Caption 48 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – Freshly "forged" Olympic Rings fly above the chimneys during The Age of Industry scene.

Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Olympic rings are assembled. Hide Caption 50 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – An actor dressed to resemble Britain's Queen Elizabeth II parachutes into the stadium. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – People wave Union flags during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Artists dressed in costumes perform. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Performers with jetpacks take part in the opening ceremony. Hide Caption 54 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – An actor dressed to resemble Britain's Queen Elizabeth II parachutes into the stadium during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption 55 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – Queen Elizabeth II, right, and Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, attend the ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Actors and dancers play Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital staff and patients. Hide Caption 57 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – Performers from the GOSH, Great Ormond Street Hospital, perform during the opening ceremony.

Hide Caption 58 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – An artist flies over children and nurses during the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital scene. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Actors perform during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Dancers perform in the GOSH and NHS scene. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Children perform a song. Hide Caption 62 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – Giant puppets depicting Lord Voldemort, center, from the Harry Potter books and the Child Catcher from "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" swirl around the stage in the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Lord Voldemort looms over the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Spectators wearing 3-D glasses during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – An artist performs during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – General view taken as actors perform during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption 67 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – Giant pictures depicting villains of British literature, including Captain Hook from "Peter Pan," are displayed during the opening ceremony.

Hide Caption 68 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – An actor dressed as Mary Poppins performs in the GOSH and NHS scene. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Performers float with umbrellas as they play the role of Mary Poppins. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – General view taken as actors perform during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Dancers perform during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption 72 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – British actor Rowan Atkinson in his role as Mr. Bean plays in the orchestra. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – A broad view of the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Performers dance to British music spanning the decades. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – A general view of the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Artists perform during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – An artist performs with a glowing pacifier during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption 78 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – A performer in a giant ball is passed around during the opening ceremony.

Hide Caption 79 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – Dancers perform under a "setting sun" in a scene dramatizing the struggle between life and death. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – General view of performers during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Dancers perform in a scene dramatizing the struggle between life and death. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Artists perform during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Performers dance during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Artists perform during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Artists perform during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – A parachutist lands outside the Olympic Stadium. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Artists wearing wings and riding bicylces perform during the ceremony. Hide Caption 88 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – The Olympic stadium lit up in red and blue during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Members of the Australia team parde into the stadium.

Hide Caption 90 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – Members of Brazil's delegation hold their national flag as they walk during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Simon Whitfield of the Canada Olympic triathlon team carries his country's flag. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Canadian athletes enter the stadium. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Chinese athletes enter the stadium. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Croatia's delegation parades during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Athletes parade during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Members of India's delegation parade in the opening ceremony. Hide Caption 97 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – A member of India's delegation takes a picture as he parades during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Ali Mazaheri of the Iran Olympic boxing team carries his country's flag. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Members of Iran's delegation parade during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Usain Bolt leads the Jamaican Olympic team around the stadium.

Hide Caption 101 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – Reigning Olympic men's 100-meter and 200-meter champion Usain Bolt of Jamaica carries his country's flag. Hide Caption 102 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – An image of Jamaica's track star Usain Bolt, currently the world's fastest man, is projected on The Houses of Parliament in London. Hide Caption 103 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – Natascha Keller of the German Olympic hockey team carries her country's flag during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Song-Chol Pak of the North Korea Olympic team carries his country's flag. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Athletes parade during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Philippine Van Aanholt, an independent Olympic athlete, parades during the opening ceremony Hide Caption 107 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – Mariel Zagunis of the United States Olympic fencing team carries her country's flag.

Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Fencer Mariel Zagunis leads the U.S. Olympic team around the stadium. Hide Caption 109 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – An image of British Olympic champion Jonathan Edwards is projected on the Houses of Parliament . Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Members of the Britain's delegation parade wave. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – British spectators cheer as they attend the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Fireworks explode from the top of Tower Bridge. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Fireworks go off from Tower Bridge. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Fireworks light up Tower Bridge. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Fireworks are displayed at Tower Bridge. Hide Caption 116 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – David Beckham passes under Tower Bridge driving a speedboat named "Max Power," which carries the Olympic Torch. Hide Caption 117 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – Torchbearer Sir Steve Redgrave hands the Olympic flame over to the seven young athletes who represent Britain's hopes for the next Olympics.

Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – The young athletes carry the Olympic glame. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – The Olympic flame is carried into the stadium. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – The Olympic flame burns in the cauldron. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – The Olympic flame is seen in the stadium during the ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Participants look on as the Olympic flame burns in the cauldron. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Fireworks over the Olympic Stadium. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Fireworks burst above the stadium during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Fireworks cast a purple glow over the Olympic Stadium. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Fireworks explode from the stadium roof. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Fireworks ignite over the Olympic Stadium. Hide Caption 128 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – People cheer as they watch the opening ceremony on an outdoor screen at Piccadilly Circus. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Fireworks light up the Olympic Stadium and the night sky. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Fireworks over the Olympic Stadium.

Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Fireworks illuminate the sky in a fiery rainbow of color. Hide Caption 132 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – Fireworks go off over the Olympic Stadium at the official opening of the 2012 Games. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Danny Boyle, the director of the opening ceremony, reacts to the show. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Fireworks form a fiery ring over the Olympic Stadium. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – General view as fireworks illuminate the sky during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Fireworks are let off over the Olympic stadium Hide Caption Olympics: Opening ceremony – Sir Paul McCartney performs during the opening ceremony. Hide Caption 138 of 139 Photos: Olympics: Opening ceremony Olympics: Opening ceremony – Fireworks light up the sky during the opening ceremony. Check out photos from the closing ceremony. Hide Caption Photos: Chinese athletes to look out for Photos: Chinese athletes to look out for Liu Xiang, hurdler – Liu Xiang will aim for his second gold medal in London's Olympic Games when he runs the 110-meter hurdles.

Hide Caption 1 of 7 Photos: Chinese athletes to look out for Sun Yang, swimmer – Swimmer Sun Yang aims to be the first Chinese male to win gold in his sport. Hide Caption 2 of 7 Photos: Chinese athletes to look out for Li Na, tennis player – Tennis star Li Na will compete in the singles tournament in her final Olympic appearance. Hide Caption 3 of 7 Photos: Chinese athletes to look out for Lin Dan, badminton player – Lin Dan, four-time world champion, will represent China in the sport of badminton. Hide Caption 4 of 7 Photos: Chinese athletes to look out for Zhang Jike, table tennis player – Zhang Jike hopes to score big in China's "national ball game" when he competes in table tennis. Hide Caption 5 of 7 Photos: Chinese athletes to look out for Ren Cancan, boxer – Ren Cancan, three-time world boxing champ, needs to beat five-time world champion Mary Kom of India to take Olympic gold. Hide Caption 6 of 7 Photos: Chinese athletes to look out for Guo Ailun, basketball player – Guo Ailun will be calling shots as the point guard for China's men's basketball team.

Hide Caption Photos: The 1972 Munich massacre Photos: The 1972 Munich massacre The Munich massacre – On September 5, 1972, the world woke up to images of the Munich Olympics in the throes of a hostage crisis. Two Israeli athletes had been killed and nine taken hostage by members of Black September, a Palestinian terrorist movement demanding the release of political prisoners by the Israeli government. Hide Caption 1 of 13 Photos: The 1972 Munich massacre Munich 1972 begins – Forty years ago, the Munich Olympics had begun full of hope. Coming just 27 years after the end of World War II, it gave the new, democratic West Germany a chance to present a different face to the world. Hide Caption 2 of 13 Photos: The 1972 Munich massacre A poignant return – It was particularly poignant for the Israeli Olympic team, many of whom had suffered directly at the hands of the Nazis. The team marked their arrival with a visit to the Dachau concentration camp. Hide Caption 3 of 13 Photos: The 1972 Munich massacre A relic from the past – But there were still remnants of the past.

Hitler's favorite movie maker and propagandist Leni Riefenstahl is pictured here at the Olympic stadium. Hide Caption 4 of 13 Photos: The 1972 Munich massacre Under siege – In a rush to show a demilitarized Germany, security around the Olympic village was lax. On September 4 the terrorist group entered the village and overpowered the Israelis. One was shot dead immediately while a second was killed soon after. Hide Caption 5 of 13 Photos: The 1972 Munich massacre Crowds gather for news – A tense standoff followed as Black September demanded the release of 200 political prisoners. The Israeli government refused to negotiate. The German authorities, who had no dedicated anti-terrorist response unit, floundered as the terrorists' deadline approached. Hide Caption 6 of 13 Photos: The 1972 Munich massacre The end game – The remaining nine hostages were killed in a botched rescue mission. It later emerged that the German authorities had committed a series of blunders during the attempted rescue.

Hide Caption 7 of 13 Photos: The 1972 Munich massacre Munich continues – The world, and the terrorists, had watched the crisis unfold live on TV. Many wanted the Games to be canceled, but the IOC refused. Competition restarted after a one day pause. Hide Caption Photos: The 1972 Munich massacre Israeli athletes leave – The remaining Israeli athletes and officials returned home. Hide Caption Photos: The 1972 Munich massacre The return home – The coffins of the dead athletes and officials followed with them. Hide Caption 10 of 13 Photos: The 1972 Munich massacre The mission – Only three of the terrorists survived. Two were later killed, allegedly by Israeli intelligence in an operation to avenge the massacre. The mission was dramatized in the Steven Spielberg film "Munich." Only one is known to be alive today, Jamal al Gashey (right). Hide Caption 11 of 13 Photos: The 1972 Munich massacre The survivor – Shaul Ladany survived the massacre. He was a champion Olympic walker who had also survived the Holocaust as a child.

Hide Caption 12 of 13 Photos: The 1972 Munich massacre A moment for the dead? – After Munich he became an academic and spent two spells in the Israeli military. At 76 years old he still walks 15 kilometers every day. He is baffled as to why the IOC refused a one-minute silence for the Israeli dead at London 2012's opening ceremony. Hide Caption 1 of 10 Photos: Runway to running track: Fashion at the Olympics The best: Prada and the Italian sailing team – World-renowned Italian fashion house Prada was a natural choice to design these understated and simple uniforms for the Italian sailing team. Hide Caption 2 of 10 Photos: Runway to running track: Fashion at the Olympics The best: Cedella Marley, Puma and Jamaica – Of all the designers involved in London 2012, Cedella Marley's collaboration with Puma has perhaps garnered the most praise. The granddaughter of reggae legend Bob Marley has created outfits that radiate laidback, urban cool. Of course, it helps that Usain Bolt is wearing them.

Hide Caption 3 of 10 Photos: Runway to running track: Fashion at the Olympics The best: Next and Team GB formalwear – Moderate high-street chain Next designed the Team GB formalwear for Friday's opening ceremony, where the host squad will be paraded in front of their home crowd for the first time. Hide Caption 4 of 10 Photos: Runway to running track: Fashion at the Olympics The best: Ermanno Scervino and Azerbaijan – Lesser-known Italian fashion house Ermanno Scervino describes itself as "a luxurious glam-rock essence made in Florence." These designs for the Azerbaijan squad will go some way to putting the former Soviet republic on the map during the Games. Hide Caption 5 of 10 Photos: Runway to running track: Fashion at the Olympics The best: Ralph Lauren and U.S. formalwear – Controversy erupted when it emerged the Ralph Lauren-designed U.S. kit had been manufactured in China. Despite the outsourced production, the New Yorker's creations are quintessentially American.

Hide Caption 6 of 10 Photos: Runway to running track: Fashion at the Olympics The worst: Bosco Sport and Spain – The uniforms that Russian designers Bosco Sport created for the Spain's Olympians are so dreadful that the athletes have taken to social-networking website Twitter to express their displeasure. Hockey player Alex Fabregas uploaded a picture of himself clad in his new gear with the caption: "Olympic kit ... there are no adjectives." Hide Caption 7 of 10 Photos: Runway to running track: Fashion at the Olympics The worst: Bosco Sport and Russia – Bosco Sport can't seem to catch a break, this time grabbing attention of the wrong kind for its retina-scalding designs for the Russian athletes. Hide Caption 8 of 10 Photos: Runway to running track: Fashion at the Olympics The worst: Slovakia – It is unclear who designed the Slovakian team's uniforms -- although who wouldn't want to retain anonymity after creating those fedoras?

Hide Caption Fatema Hameed Gerashi - The Full Wiki The Full Wiki More info on Fatema Hameed Gerashi Wikis Advertisements Note: Many of our articles have direct quotes from sources you can cite, within the Wikipedia article! This article doesn't yet, but we're working on it! See more info or our list of citable articles . From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Fatema Hameed Gerashi, born in 1987 or 1988, is a Bahraini swimmer . She represented her country at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney , competing in the women's 50 metres freestyle race. At the age of 12, she was the youngest competitor of any event and any nationality at the Sydney Games. [1] [2] She completed the race with a time of 51.15 [3] , finishing more than twelve seconds ahead of Equatorial Guinea 's Paula Barila Bolopa , but was disqualified, reportedly for having wobbled on the starting blocks, which was deemed a false start despite her not having been the first competitor to enter the water.

[4] The Times praised her "Olympic spirit" and her "brave, technically proficient race". [5] The Guardian likewise praised her participation as conforming to "the true spirit of the Olympics". [6] The Telegraph described her as "a pioneer for Arabian Muslim women in a sport where the disrobing of the performers creates religious and cultural problems." [7] Her participation was reportedly part of the Bahraini government's stated effort to promote "equality in sport". [8] See also Countdown to the Olympics: Swimming Through the Ages | Breaking Muscle Countdown to the Olympics: Swimming Through the Ages Coach          With less than a week until the opening ceremony for the Games of the XXX Olympiad , it is hard to contain my excitement of what may happen in my number one sport – swimming - this year. This first of the swimming action is set to happen July 28, with four Olympic Gold medals disputed on the first day. Thirty-four events (seventeen male and seventeen female) are scheduled in swimming at the London Olympics.

Historic Perspective London is the first city to host the modern Olympic games for a third time, after hosting in 1908 and 1948. London will host twenty-six sports and thirty-nine disciplines, of which swimming is undoubtedly one of the most popular. It is a discipline that has been featured at every modern Summer Olympic Games (starting in 1896), and has been open to women since 1912. The sport of swimming has evolved significantly since its inception. This year, swimming events will take place at a state of the art facility especially constructed for the Olympics at the London Aquatics Center. The complex boasts two 50m pools and one 25m diving pool. But facilities like this haven’t always been the case for swimming. At the first three Olympics (1896, 1900 and 1904), swimming was held in open water . Other interesting facts about the history of swimming in the Olympics: The 1904 Olympics, held in St Louis, Missouri, were the only ones where swimming was contested in yards instead of meters.

At the London 1908 Olympics, swimming was contested in a custom built 100m pool placed in the middle of the track and field oval. The 1912 Stockholm Olympics featured swimming in a 100m course in Stockholm Harbor, with the inclusion of two events for women for the first time in Olympic history. The emergence of the standard 50m pool (commonly referred to as Olympic size) didn’t happen until the 1924 Paris Olympics. Diving blocks did not make an appearance until the 1936 Berlin Olympics. And not just the venues, but the pools themselves have improved over the years. The design of the standard 50m pool has improved significantly, affording swimmers to swim faster. Engineering feats have allowed significant drag coefficient reduction by manipulation of pool depth, elimination of waves and currents, increased lane width, energy absorbing lane lines and gutters, and the use of other innovative hydraulic, acoustic, and illumination features. The diving block has also undergone significant changes over the years, allowing swimmers to have more effective reaction times and powerful dives. The events offered have also changed significantly over the years.

For example, butterfly events did not appear until the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Prior to that butterfly was recognized as part of the breaststroke. The 1968 Mexico City Olympics saw the introduction of a distance event for women, the 800m. Up until then women were considered to be too delicate to swim such long races. Today both the men’s and women’s schedules include seventeen events, sixteen of which are the same. The one difference is still in the distance event, where men swim the 1500m while women only swim 800m. Interestingly, at the 2008 Beijing Olympics the first marathon swimming event was introduced, 10km, and offered to both men and women. Pools and event distance/number/type aren’t the only things that evolved in the sport. One of the most notable ( and possibly controversial ) evolutions has been in swimwear. Full body suits were worn by men up until the 1940s. These were poorly designed and significantly increased resistance.

Over the years we have seen changes in design and fabric - the late 80s saw the popularity of the “paper” swimsuit, and the 90s saw the reintroduction of the full body suit, this time with a much better design than the pre-1940s counterpart. The body suit continued to evolve, offering a myriad of combination possibilities to suit swimmers/stroke preferences. The Speedo LZR was possibly the first generation of state of the art body suits, and several other companies invested heavily in creating the fastest suit possible. The apex of swimsuit design came with the introduction of the seamless, non-fabric suits (the most notable being the Jaked J01 and the Arena X-Glide) that not only reduced drag, but significantly improved swimmer’s buoyancy. Practically every record in the books was tackled in 2009 by swimmers wearing one of these suits.

But through intense lobbying by swimmers who felt these suits provided an unfair advantage (it still baffles me to this day how this was unfair, considering the suits were commercially available to ANY swimmer and being openly worn in competition) the suits were eventually banned and very strict regulations on what is or is not allowed in competition were put in place. These regulations were enacted and are upheld by the Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA). Suit engineering is still a hot topic in swimming, with new state of the art suits being developed every year, but all while meeting the requirements set forth by FINA. At the London Olympics no full body suits will be allowed. For both men and women the suit must be one hundred percent fabric. Women may wear a suit that covers from neck to knees, provided the shoulders are not covered, and the suit does not use a zipper for closure. Men are limited to a maximum of coverage from waist to knee. In no circumstances may a swimmer, male or female, wear more than one suit while racing. Nowadays several companies have also started playing around with goggle and cap design. For most, however, the advantage is yet to be determined. Interestingly, goggles were first allowed at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

2012 - Here We Are, In London So what to expect in London? One hundred and sixty-six nations will compete in swimming in London. Each country is allowed up to two qualified swimmers per individual event and one relay team. Each participating country is allowed a maximum of fifty-two swimmers (twenty-six male and twenty-six female). In London, China will bring the largest contingent with fifty-one swimmers, followed by the United States with forty-nine. But how did these swimmers get to be in London? Ah, the qualification process I am all too familiar with. Although each country has authority on how to select the swimmers who represent them, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) establishes a standard that must be met in order for a swimmer to be eligible to compete at the Olympic Games. As with previous Olympics, FINA published two sets of standards for London : the "Olympic Qualifying Standard" and an "Olympic Invitation Standard.” Each country may enter up to two swimmers per event, provided both swimmers meet the qualifying time. A country may enter one swimmer per event who meets the invitation standard.

Any swimmer who meets the qualifying time will be entered in the event for the Games; a swimmer meeting the invitation standard will be eligible for entry, and their entry will be allotted/filled in by ranking. A country that does not receive an allocation spot, but has at least one swimmer who meets a qualifying standard may enter the swimmer with the highest ranking. If a country has no swimmers meeting either qualifying standard, it may enter one male and one female in total. We have seen this happen and made popular at games like the 2000 Sydney Olympics, which crowned minor celebrities from Equatorial Guinea, Eric “the Eel” and Paula Barila. The latter set the slowest time in Olympic history for the 50m freestyle. Who Will the 34 Olympic Swimming Champions Be? I have high expectations for the London Olympics. Unlike prior Olympics in which I failed to qualify, this time around I am really excited to see the action unfold. Although I don’t think the excitement as a whole will be as climactic as Michael Phelps claiming the most Gold medals in Olympic history in Beijing, the excitement comes from having multiple favorites for most events.

Watching the fierce battles in the pool will be nail biting and a true test to the swimmers’ preparation for this major event. There are many, many mention worthy swimmers, and I could probably make a fairly large list. I am personally looking forward to seeing the battles between Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte in several events, Missy Franklin’s (who has been coined as the female Michael Phelps) Olympic debut, how dominant will the European female sprinters be (okay, I am European, and I am a sprinter so maybe I may have a little bias), but probably, no, definitely, the event I am most looking forward to is the women’s 100m Breaststroke that features one of my former teammates, Breeja Larson, who qualified first at the U.S. Olympic trials in a major upset to the overwhelming favorite Rebecca Soni (who qualified in second and will also swim the event) and world record holder Jessica Hardy. For more information visit the London Olympics website or the NBC Olympics website .

Banglas the great bunglers - Cricket - Sport - theage.com.au network map | member centre <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript1.1" SRC=""> </SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT> <A HREF=""> <IMG SRC=""></A> </NOSCRIPT> Banglas the great bunglers Bangladesh's Aftab Ahmed falls to his knees after dropping English batsman Graham Thorpe during the first Test at Lord's. The only progress Bangladesh has made . . . is from clueless to hopeless. Photo: Reuters It may be no coincidence that the International Cricket Council decided to award Test-match status to Bangladesh during the Sydney Olympics. The sight of Eric the Eel, the swimmer from Equatorial Guinea, thrashing around like a freshly landed cod on the deck of a trawler must have convinced them that this was a good year for throwing people in at the deep end and watching them sink. The thought process attached to their decision was that the best and quickest way to help Bangladeshi cricket to grow up was to allow them to mix it with the big boys. Which is one way of looking at it.

Another is that not many mothers would consider it a great idea to teach their children how to cross a road by practising on the freeway. The only progress Bangladesh has made since being promoted five years ago is from clueless to hopeless and, on the evidence of the past couple of days at Lord's, it's hard to see where the kind of opposition required to boost its self-belief could conceivably be located. It puts you in mind of the soccer manager who attempted to boost the confidence of his team by organising a training session against 11 dustbins. "Did it work?" he was asked by reporters afterwards. "Not really," he replied. "The dustbins won 3-0." Between now and the main course is the longest hors d'ouevre an English summer has ever seen, and if there has ever been a more absurd concept than the NatWest Series, it's hard to bring it to mind. Nine one-day internationals between England, Australia and Bangladesh, with the object of whittling three teams down to two.

The nail-biting question, of course, is "which two?" They have been playing Test cricket at Lord's for more than 100 years and never before can so much dazzling strokeplay have threatened to send spectators into an irreversible coma. If there is no contest, there is no excitement, and England's batsmen plundering boundaries off Bangladesh's bowlers was the equivalent of stealing dead flies from blind spiders. If Bangladesh has learnt anything from their exposure to England in this match, it would be to mark out its own run-ups. On Thursday morning, Matthew Hoggard entrusted this task to the team's bowling coach, resulting in a glut of no-balls. Central contracts are, of course, designed to make sure that an England bowler doesn't over-exert himself: if only Fred Trueman had had someone to bend down to put a small metal plate on the turf for him, he'd still be steaming in off his long run.

Quite what Fred would have made of this mollycoddling were he still a member of the Test Match Special commentary team is not hard to guess at, and the past few days have represented fertile breeding ground for TMS, for whom long periods of meaningless cricket represent the ideal opportunity to dupe Henry Blofeld into reading out spoof messages from listeners with names such as Mr Hugh Jarse. Whatever the value of these matches to Bangladesh, you also have wonder about their worth to England. Filling your boots before the Australians get here won't hurt, but it's a bit like preparing to climb a mountain by walking the dog around the block. TELEGRAPH Ghana's Olympic swimmers to compete in Rio - SuperSport - Aquatics Ghana's Olympic swimmers to compete in Rio 25 July 2016, 06:42 Tweet Ghana's global reputation in sport is largely based on football but Abeku Jackson and Kaya Forson wants to change that when they become the African nation's first Olympic swimmers. The 16-year-old Jackson is heading to Brazil to compete in the blue riband 50m freestyle with Forson, a 14-year-old based in Spain.

Both competed in the world championships last year. Neither Jackson nor Forson met the Olympics qualifying time but both got their ticket on the universality system, which allows a country's two fastest swimmers to compete regardless. 'A FAMILY THING' Abeku began swimming when he was three and took part in his first race at five. Both his brothers also swim competitively. "It's a family thing," the teenager told AFP, taking a break from training at a pool in the capital, Accra. Training is twice-a-day, six days a week and since those early days, his father, Kodwo, has been ever-present. Kodwo said it was his own fear of water that got his family into the pool. He decided in 2003 to get over his phobia and started swimming lessons for himself and his children. Since then he has became the coach of his three sons' swimming team in Accra, the GH Dolphins, and also a national team coach. Balancing the two roles of parent and coach is not a problem for him, although Abeku sometimes finds it difficult, he said. "You are in the child's face all the time," Kodwo added.

POOL SHORTAGE Abeku's best time for the 50m freestyle is nearly four seconds off the current world record held by Brazil's Cesar Cielo, making it unlikely he will challenge the big guns in Rio. But his participation has a wider aim: inspiring other Ghanaians to compete in the future. "Swimming is a lifesaving sport, it's a sport that keeps the kids disciplined, it gives them focus and helps them to save lives and work as a team," said Kodwo. "I think every child of school going age should have a chance to swim, in one swimming programme or another." But in a developing nation like Ghana, infrastructure is an issue. Accra has an Olympic-sized pool but there is a lack of swimming facilities elsewhere: swimming at the beach or in rivers can be dangerous, with strong tides and currents. In much of Africa, competitive swimming and water safety skills are generally not a priority. According to the World Health Organisation, Africans, especially young children, are up to 13 times more likely to drown than their Western European counterparts. Former Olympic swimmer Princess Charlene of Monaco is looking to change that, partnering with a school outside Accra to build a pool and developing a swimming programme.

Her foundation has also run similar programmes in South Africa, Senegal and Tanzania. FUTURE CHAMPIONS? The president of the Ghana Swimming Association, Theophylus Edzie, hopes the country's presence in the pool in Rio will help it become known for swimming – and dispel stereotypes. In Sydney in 2000, Equatorial Guinea swimmers Eric "The Eel" Moussambani and Paula Barila Bolopa were lauded for embodying the true Olympic spirit, even as they trailed in last in qualifying. But Edzie has high hopes. "Many people think blacks are non-swimmers but with this boy Abeku, we will prove to people one day that blacks can really swim and blacks can make it equally just like the whites," he said. "It is a story we are writing today and this story will be told in 2024 when everything has come to fruition. We are going to change the face of swimming in Ghana. "We are going to change the face of swimming in West Africa, and we are going to change the face of swimming in Africa and then the world." © AFP

Question: 'Eric the Eel' and 'Paula the Trawler' represented which country at the Sydney Olympics?
Answer: EQUATORIAL GUINEA